Reed switch

ABSTRACT

A reed switch includes an envelope, a first fixed terminal piece, a second fixed terminal piece, a third fixed terminal piece, a movable reed piece, a first spring member, a second spring member, and a third spring member. The movable reed piece has a base end portion, a distal end portion, and a movable contact portion. A distal end portion of the second spring member is farther from the first spring member than a base end portion of the second spring member in a state where the movable contact portion is spaced apart from a distal end portion of the first spring member and the distal end portion of the second spring member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of the U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/364,326 filed Feb. 2, 2012, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No.2011-058390, filed Mar. 16, 2011. The contents of these applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reed switch.

2. Discussion of the Background

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-161216discloses a reed switch. The reed switch includes a nonmagneticenvelope. In the nonmagnetic envelope, a first fixed terminal piece anda second fixed terminal piece are partially and hermetically sealed. Tothe second fixed terminal piece, one end of a support piece ofconductive spring material is secured. The other end of the supportpiece extends toward the sealed part of the first fixed terminal piece.To the support piece, a magnetic piece of magnetic material is secured.The magnetic piece includes an armature disposed opposite anotherarmature on the sealed part of the first fixed terminal piece across amagnetic gap. A moving contact is attached to the magnetic piece. Acontact piece is engaged with an end portion of the sealed part of thefirst fixed terminal piece with a spring pressure. The contact piece hasa protrusion that serves as a fixed contact to come into and out ofcontact with the moving contact. The reed switch is of the Form A type,where the contact closes upon application of an external magnetic field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a reed switch a reedswitch includes an envelope, a first fixed terminal piece, a secondfixed terminal piece, a third fixed terminal piece, a movable reedpiece, a first spring member, a second spring member, and a third springmember. The envelope has one end and another end. The first fixedterminal piece is provided at the one end of the envelope to constitutea normally open terminal. The first fixed terminal piece has one endportion inside the envelope and another end portion outside theenvelope. The second fixed terminal piece is spaced apart from the firstfixed terminal piece and provided at the one end of the envelope toconstitute a normally closed terminal. The second fixed terminal piecehas one end portion inside the envelope and another end portion outsidethe envelope. The third fixed terminal piece is provided at the otherend of the envelope to constitute a common terminal. The third fixedterminal piece has one end portion inside the envelope and another endportion outside the envelope. The movable reed piece is inside theenvelope. The movable reed piece has a base end portion, a distal endportion, and a movable contact portion. The base end portion faces theone end portion of the third fixed terminal piece across a magnetic gap.The distal end portion is configured to come into contact with the firstfixed terminal piece. The movable contact portion is further centerwardthan the distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of the reedswitch. The first spring member has a base end portion secured to thefirst fixed terminal piece and a distal end portion configured to comeinto contact with the movable contact portion. The second spring memberhas a base end portion secured to the second fixed terminal piece and adistal end portion configured to come into contact with the movablecontact portion. The distal end portion of the second spring member isfarther from the first spring member than the base end portion of thesecond spring member in a state where the movable contact portion isspaced apart from the distal end portion of the first spring member andthe distal end portion of the second spring member. The third springmember has one end portion secured to the movable reed piece and anotherend portion secured to the third fixed terminal piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a reed switch according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reed switch;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the reed switch;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reed switch according toa second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the reed switch;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reed switch according toa third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the reed switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding oridentical elements throughout the various drawings.

First Embodiment

A reed switch 10 a according to the first embodiment is applicable to,for example, a motor control circuit shown in FIG. 1.

The reed switch 10 a is of the Form C type. The reed switch 10 a has acommon (COM) terminal coupled to an electric power supply V, a normallyopen (NO) terminal coupled to a motor M, and a normally closed (NC)terminal coupled to an electromagnetic brake B of the motor M.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the motor M is stationary, the electric powersupply V is coupled only to the electromagnetic brake B to operate theelectromagnetic brake B. In contrast, when the motor M is in motion, anexternal magnetic field is applied to the reed switch 10 a to couple theelectric power supply V only to the motor M. As a result, theelectromagnetic brake B is released to rotate the motor M.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reed switch 10 a includes an envelope 12, afirst terminal unit 14 a, a second terminal unit 16 a, and a thirdterminal unit 18 a. The first terminal unit 14 a, the second terminalunit 16 a, and the third terminal unit 18 a each are made of aconductive material.

The envelope 12 is nonmagnetic. Examples include, but not limited to,glass. The envelope 12 contains inert gas. Examples include, but notlimited to, nitrogen and helium.

The first terminal unit 14 a includes a first fixed terminal piece 22 aconstituting the NO terminal, a fixed reed piece 24, and a first springmember 26 a.

The first fixed terminal piece 22 a is disposed at an end of theenvelope 12, and has one end portion inside the envelope 12 and anotherend portion outside the envelope 12.

The first fixed terminal piece 22 a is made of a magnetic material (suchas Nickel-iron alloy, which applies throughout the description thatfollows).

The fixed reed piece 24 extends centerward from the one end portion(which is a distal end portion inside the envelope 12) of the firstfixed terminal piece 22 a in the longitudinal direction of the reedswitch 10 a. The fixed reed piece 24 has a base end portion, and in planview, the top face of the base end portion is secured to the bottom faceof the distal end portion of the first fixed terminal piece 22 a. Thefixed reed piece 24 is made of a magnetic material.

The first spring member 26 a has a base end portion secured to thebottom face of the base end portion of the fixed reed piece 24, andextends centerward from the distal end portion of the fixed reed piece24 in the longitudinal direction of the reed switch 10 a. The base endportion of the first spring member 26 a is caulked by the caulking pin28 and thereby secured to the first fixed terminal piece 22 a togetherwith the base end portion of the fixed reed piece 24. As shown in FIG.2, the first spring member 26 a has a downward protrusion at a positionfurther centerward than the base end portion in the longitudinaldirection of the reed switch 10 a. This ensures that a spring force F1(see Step SA5 in FIG. 3) is generated in the upward direction in sideview.

The first spring member 26 a is made of a nonmagnetic material (such asmolybdenum, which applies throughout the description that follows). Itshould be noted, however, that the first spring member 26 a may be madeof a magnetic material.

A movable contact portion 42, described later, is configured to comeinto contact with the distal end portion of the first spring member 26a.

The second terminal unit 16 a includes a second fixed terminal piece 22b constituting the NC terminal and a second spring member 26 b.

The second fixed terminal piece 22 b is disposed at the one end of theenvelope 12 and spaced apart from the first fixed terminal piece 22 a ina direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (that is, in theupper direction in side view). The second fixed terminal piece 22 b hasone end portion inside the envelope 12 and another end portion outsidethe envelope 12.

The second fixed terminal piece 22 b is made of a magnetic material. Itshould be noted, however, that the second fixed terminal piece 22 b maybe made of a nonmagnetic material, since no flux path, described later,is generated on the second fixed terminal piece 22 b.

The second spring member 26 b has a base end portion secured to the topface of a distal end portion of the second fixed terminal piece 22 b inside view. The base end portion of the second spring member 26 b iscaulked by the caulking pin 28 and thereby secured to the second fixedterminal piece 22 b. As shown in FIG. 2, the second spring member 26 bhas a bent portion at a position further centerward than the base endportion in the longitudinal direction of the reed switch 10 a. Thisensures that a spring force F2 (see Step SA1 in FIG. 3) is generated inthe downward direction in side view.

The second spring member 26 b is made of a nonmagnetic material. Itshould be noted, however, that the second spring member 26 b may be madeof a magnetic material.

The movable contact portion 42, described later, is configured to comeinto contact with the distal end portion of the second spring member 26b.

The third terminal unit 18 a includes a third fixed terminal piece 22 cconstituting the COM terminal, a movable reed piece 40, and a thirdspring member 26 c.

The third fixed terminal piece 22 c is disposed at the other end of theenvelope 12 and has one end portion (which is a distal end portioninside the envelope 12) inside the envelope 12 and another end portionoutside the envelope 12. The distal end portion of the third fixedterminal piece 22 c inside the envelope 12 is bent downward in side viewto form a bent portion 23.

The third fixed terminal piece 22 c is made of a magnetic material.

The movable reed piece 40 has a base end portion at the side of the oneend portion (which is the distal end portion inside the envelope 12) ofthe third fixed terminal piece 22 c. The end portion of the movable reedpiece 40 at the side of the third fixed terminal piece 22 c is bentdownward in side view to form a bent portion 41. The bent portion 41 ofthe movable reed piece 40 and the bent portion 23 of the third fixedterminal piece 22 c face one another across a magnetic gap G.

The movable reed piece 40 has a movable contact portion 42 furthercenterward than the distal end portion in the longitudinal direction ofthe reed switch 10 a. The movable contact portion 42 protrudes in theupward and downward directions. As an upper portion of the movablecontact portion 42, an upper movable contact portion 42 a is configuredto come into contact with the distal end portion of the second springmember 26 b, as described above. The distal end portion of the uppermovable contact portion 42 a tapers toward its tip. As a lower portionof the movable contact portion 42, a lower movable contact portion 42 bis configured to come into contact with the distal end portion of thefirst spring member 26 a, as described above. The lower movable contactportion 42 b has a cylindrical shape.

The movable reed piece 40 is made of a magnetic material.

The third spring member 26 c has one end portion secured to the movablereed piece 40 and another end portion secured to the third fixedterminal piece 22 c. Specifically, the one end portion of the thirdspring member 26 c is caulked by the movable contact portion 42 andthereby secured to the movable reed piece 40. The other end portion ofthe third spring member 26 c is caulked by the caulking pin 28 andthereby secured to the third fixed terminal piece 22 c.

The third spring member 26 c is configured to generate a spring force F3(see Step SA1 in FIG. 3) against the movable reed piece 40 in thedirection in which the upper movable contact portion 42 a is broughtinto contact with the second spring member 26 b.

The third spring member 26 c is made of a nonmagnetic material. Itshould be noted, however, that the third spring member 26 c may be madeof a magnetic material.

The first spring member 26 a, the second spring member 26 b, and thethird spring member 26 c respectively have spring constants K1, K2, andK3, which are set as follows.

The spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 c is smaller thanthe spring constant K1 of the first spring member 26 a (K3<K1).

The spring constant K2 of the second spring member 26 b has a first caseand a second case, namely, where the spring constant K2 is smaller thanthe spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 (K2<K3<K1), andwhere the spring constant K2 is larger than the spring constant K1 ofthe first spring member 26 a (K3<K1<K2).

Next, an operation of the reed switch 10 a will be described. Uponchange from a state without a magnetic field applied from outside to astate with a magnetic field applied from outside, the reed switch 10 aoperates according to steps SA1 to SA5 shown in FIG. 3.

Step SA1

Without a magnetic field applied from outside, the third spring member26 c keeps the upper movable contact portion 42 a in contact with thesecond spring member 26 b.

In the first case, K2<K3<K1, the second spring member 26 b is urged tothe inner surface side of the envelope 12 and thus comes into contactwith the upper movable contact portion 42 a in a bent state. In somecases, the urged second spring member 26 b comes into contact with theinner surface of the envelope 12.

In the second case, K3<K1<K2, the second spring member 26 b comes intocontact with the upper movable contact portion 42 a with approximatelyno bending.

Step SA2

With a magnetic field applied from outside, the attracting force betweenthe magnetized movable reed piece 40 and the magnetized fixed reed piece24 becomes larger than the thrusting force of the third spring member 26c against the upper movable contact portion 42 a toward the secondspring member 26 b. This separates the upper movable contact portion 42a from the second spring member 26 b.

In FIG. 3, the dashed lines each indicate a part of the flux pathresulting from the magnetic field applied from outside.

Step SA3

The lower movable contact portion 42 b approaches the first springmember 26 a.

Step SA4

The lower movable contact portion 42 b comes into contact with the firstspring member 26 a.

Step SA5

The gap between the movable reed piece 40 and the fixed reed piece 24diminishes. The attracting force, Fm (see Step SA2 in FIG. 3), betweenthe movable reed piece 40 and the fixed reed piece 24 is larger than thespring force F3 of the third spring member 26 c and the spring force F1of the first spring member 26 a combined. Hence, the movable reed piece40 thrusts down the first spring member 26 a.

Finally, the lower side of the distal end portion (that is, a movingmagnetic armature 50) of the movable reed piece 40 comes into contactwith the upper side of the distal end portion (that is, a fixed magneticarmature 52 a) of the fixed reed piece 24.

The spring force F1 (spring constant K1) of the first spring member 26 ais sufficiently large such that the spring constant K1 is larger thanthe spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 c, as describedabove. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the movingmagnetic armature 50 and the fixed magnetic armature 52 a.

With the magnetic field no longer applied from outside, the reed switch10 a operates according to the steps in reverse (that is, step SA5, stepSA4, step SA3, step SA2, and step SA1).

Specifically, with the magnetic field no longer applied, the movablereed piece 40 receives the combined force of the spring force F1 of thefirst spring member 26 a and the spring force F3 of the third springmember 26 c. The combined force urges the movable reed piece 40 in thedirection in which to come into contact with the second spring member 26b. The difference between the spring force F3 of the third spring member26 c and the spring force F2 of the second spring member 26 b keeps theupper movable contact portion 42 a and the second spring member 26 b incontact with one another.

Thus, the reed switch 10 a is of the Form C type, where the COM terminalis coupled to the NO terminal or the NC terminal depending on thepresence of an external magnetic field.

The NO terminal of the reed switch 10 a has a “double contactstructure”, where two internal couplings are established, which are atthe distal end portion of the movable reed piece 40 and the movablecontact portion 42.

Second Embodiment

A reed switch 10 b according to the second embodiment will be described.Identical reference numerals designate corresponding or identicalelements throughout the drawings, and therefore such elements will notbe further elaborated here.

The first terminal unit is a feature of the reed switch 10 b accordingto the second embodiment, as compared with the reed switch 10 aaccording to the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, thefirst terminal unit 14 b of the reed switch 10 b according to the secondembodiment has a first fixed terminal piece 62 a. The first fixedterminal piece 62 a, however, is not provided with the fixed reed piece24 (see FIG. 2), which, in the first embodiment, extends centerward fromthe one end portion (which is the distal end portion inside the envelope12) of the first fixed terminal piece 22 a.

The third terminal unit is another feature of the reed switch 10 baccording to the second embodiment, as compared with the reed switch 10a according to the first embodiment. Specifically, the reed switch 10 bhas a third terminal unit 18 b, which has a movable reed piece 56 and athird fixed terminal piece 55. The feature is that the base end portionof the movable reed piece 56 and the distal end portion of the thirdfixed terminal piece 55 are not bent. Accordingly, the magnetic gap G isdefined between the end face of the base end portion of the movable reedpiece 56 and the end face of the distal end portion of the third fixedterminal piece 55 facing the end face of the base end portion of themovable reed piece 56.

Next, an operation of the reed switch 10 b will be described. Uponchange from a state without a magnetic field applied from outside to astate with a magnetic field applied from outside, the reed switch 10 boperates according to steps SB1 to SB5 shown in FIG. 5.

Step SB1

Without a magnetic field applied from outside, the third spring member26 c keeps the upper movable contact portion 42 a in contact with thesecond spring member 26 b.

In the first case, K2<K3<K1, the second spring member 26 b is urged tothe inner surface side of the envelope 12 and thus comes into contactwith the upper movable contact portion 42 a in a bent state. In somecases, the urged second spring member 26 b comes into contact with theinner surface of the envelope 12.

In the second case, K3<K1<K2, the second spring member 26 b comes intocontact with the upper movable contact portion 42 a with approximatelyno bending.

Step SB2

With a magnetic field applied from outside, the attracting force betweenthe magnetized movable reed piece 56 and the first fixed terminal piece62 a becomes larger than the thrusting force of the third spring member26 c against the upper movable contact portion 42 a toward the secondspring member 26 b. This separates the upper movable contact portion 42a from the second spring member 26 b.

In FIG. 5, the dashed lines each indicate a part of the flux pathresulting from the magnetic field applied from outside.

Step SB3

The lower movable contact portion 42 b approaches the first springmember 26 a.

Step SB4

The lower movable contact portion 42 b comes into contact with the firstspring member 26 a.

Step SB5

The gap between the movable reed piece 56 and the first fixed terminalpiece 62 a diminishes. The attracting force, Fm, between the movablereed piece 56 and the first fixed terminal piece 62 a is larger than thespring force F3 of the third spring member 26 c and the spring force F1of the first spring member 26 a combined. Hence, the movable reed piece56 thrusts down the first spring member 26 a.

Finally, the lower side of the distal end portion (which is a movingmagnetic armature 49) of the movable reed piece 56 comes into contactwith the upper side of the distal end portion (which is a fixed magneticarmature 52 b) of the first fixed terminal piece 62 a.

The spring force F1 (spring constant K1) of the first spring member 26 ais sufficiently large such that the spring constant K1 is larger thanthe spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 c, as describedabove. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the movingmagnetic armature 49 and the fixed magnetic armature 52 b.

With the magnetic field no longer applied from outside, the reed switch10 b operates according to the steps in reverse (that is, step SBS, stepSB4, step SB3, step SB2, and step SB1).

Specifically, with the magnetic field no longer applied, the movablereed piece 56 receives the combined force of the spring force F1 of thefirst spring member 26 a and the spring force F3 of the third springmember 26 c. The combined force urges the movable reed piece 56 in thedirection in which to come into contact with the second spring member 26b. The difference between the spring force F3 of the third spring member26 c and the spring force F2 of the second spring member 26 b keeps theupper movable contact portion 42 a and the second spring member 26 b incontact with one another.

Thus, the reed switch 10 b is of the Form C type, where the COM terminalis coupled to the NO terminal or the NC terminal depending on thepresence of an external magnetic field.

The NO terminal of the reed switch 10 b has a “double contactstructure”, where two internal couplings are established, which are atthe distal end portion of the movable reed piece 56 and the movablecontact portion 42.

Third Embodiment

A reed switch 10 c according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below. Identical reference numeralsdesignate corresponding or identical elements throughout the drawings,and therefore such elements will not be further elaborated here.

The second terminal unit is a feature of the reed switch 10 c accordingto the third embodiment, as compared with the reed switch 10 b accordingto the second embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the reedswitch 10 c has a second terminal unit 16 c, which has a second fixedterminal piece 72 b. The feature is that the second fixed terminal piece72 b inside the envelope 12 is elongated. The second fixed terminalpiece 72 b, excluding a distal end portion 94 (see FIG. 7), is made of amagnetic material or a nonmagnetic material. The distal end portion 94of the second fixed terminal piece 72 b is made of a nonmagneticmaterial.

Another feature is the shape of the second spring member 27 b of thesecond terminal unit 16 c. Specifically, the shape of the second springmember 27 b is approximately the same as the shape of the first springmember 26 a. The second spring member 27 b is made of a nonmagneticmaterial.

The third terminal unit is another feature of the reed switch 10 caccording to the third embodiment, as compared with the reed switch 10 aaccording to the first embodiment. Specifically, the reed switch 10 chas a third terminal unit 18 c, which has a movable reed piece 80 and athird fixed terminal piece 72 c. The feature is that the base endportion of the movable reed piece 80 and the distal end portion of thethird fixed terminal piece 72 c are not bent. Accordingly, the magneticgap G is defined between the end face of the base end portion of themovable reed piece 80 and the end face of the distal end portion of thethird fixed terminal piece 72 c facing the end face of the base endportion of the movable reed piece 80.

Additionally, an upper moving contact 92 a of a moving contact 92 has acylindrical shape.

The first spring member 26 a, the second spring members 27 b, and thethird spring member 26 c respectively have spring constants K1, K2, andK3, which are set as follows.

The spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 c is smaller thanthe spring constant K1 of the first spring member 26 a (K3<K1).

The spring constant K2 of the second spring member 27 b has a first caseand a second case, namely, where the spring constant K2 is smaller thanthe spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 (K2<K3<K1), andwhere the spring constant K2 is larger than the spring constant K1 ofthe first spring member 26 a (K3<K1<K2).

An operation of the reed switch 10 c will be described. Upon change froma state without a magnetic field applied from outside to a state with amagnetic field applied from outside, the reed switch 10 c operatesaccording to steps SC1 to SC5 shown in FIG. 7.

Step SC1

Without a magnetic field applied from outside, the third spring member26 c keeps the upper moving contact 92 a in contact with the secondspring member 27 b. The upper side of the distal end portion (that is, amoving magnetic armature 50) of the movable reed piece 80 is in contactwith the lower side of the distal end portion 94 (nonmagnetic material)of the second fixed terminal piece 72 b.

Step SC2

With a magnetic field applied from outside, the attracting force betweenthe magnetized movable reed piece 80 and the first fixed terminal piece62 a becomes larger than the thrusting force of the third spring member26 c against the upper moving contact 92 a toward the second springmember 27 b. This separates the upper moving contact 92 a from thesecond spring member 27 b. Additionally, the movable reed piece 80separates from the distal end portion 94 of the second fixed terminalpiece 72 b.

In FIG. 7, the dashed lines each indicate a part of the flux pathresulting from the magnetic field applied from outside.

Step SC3

The lower movable contact portion 42 b approaches the first springmember 26 a.

Step SC4

The lower movable contact portion 42 b comes into contact with the firstspring member 26 a.

Step SC5

The gap between the movable reed piece 80 and the first fixed terminalpiece 62 a diminishes. The attracting force, Fm, between the movablereed piece 80 and the first fixed terminal piece 62 a is larger than thespring force F3 of the third spring member 26 c and the spring force F1of the first spring member 26 a combined. Hence, the movable reed piece80 thrusts down the first spring member 26 a.

Finally, the lower side of the distal end portion (that is, a movingmagnetic armature 50) of the movable reed piece 80 comes into contactwith the upper side of the distal end portion (that is, a fixed magneticarmature 52 b) of the first fixed terminal piece 62 a.

The spring force F1 (spring constant K1) of the first spring member 26 ais sufficiently large such that the spring constant K1 is larger thanthe spring constant K3 of the third spring member 26 c, as describedabove. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the movingmagnetic armature 50 and the fixed magnetic armature 52 b.

With the magnetic field no longer applied from outside, the reed switch10 c operates according to the steps in reverse (that is, step SC5, stepSC4, step SC3, step SC2, and step SC1).

Specifically, with the magnetic field no longer applied, the movablereed piece 80 receives the combined force of the spring force F1 of thefirst spring member 26 a and the spring force F3 of the third springmember 26 c. The combined force urges the movable reed piece 80 in thedirection in which to come into contact with the second spring member 27b. The difference between the spring force F3 of the third spring member26 c and the spring force F2 of the second spring member 27 b keeps theupper moving contact 92 a and the second spring member 27 b in contactwith one another. Additionally, the second fixed terminal piece 72 b andthe movable reed piece 80 are also kept in contact with one another.

Thus, the reed switch 10 c is of the Form C type, where the COM terminalis coupled to the NO terminal or the NC terminal depending on thepresence of an external magnetic field.

The NO terminal and the NC terminal of the reed switch 10 c each have a“double contact structure”, where two internal couplings areestablished, which are at the distal end portion of the movable reedpiece 80 and the moving contact 92.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A reed switch comprising: an envelope having one end and another end; a first fixed terminal piece provided at the one end of the envelope to constitute a normally open terminal, the first fixed terminal piece having one end portion inside the envelope and another end portion outside the envelope; a second fixed terminal piece spaced apart from the first fixed terminal piece and provided at the one end of the envelope to constitute a normally closed terminal, the second fixed terminal piece having one end portion inside the envelope and another end portion outside the envelope; a third fixed terminal piece provided at the other end of the envelope to constitute a common terminal, the third fixed terminal piece having one end portion inside the envelope and another end portion outside the envelope; a movable reed piece inside the envelope, the movable reed piece having a base end portion, a distal end portion, and a movable contact portion, the base end portion facing the one end portion of the third fixed terminal piece across a magnetic gap, the distal end portion being configured to come into contact with the first fixed terminal piece, the movable contact portion being further centerward than the distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of the reed switch; a first spring member having a base end portion secured to the first fixed terminal piece and a distal end portion configured to come into contact with the movable contact portion; a second spring member having a base end portion secured to the second fixed terminal piece and a distal end portion configured to come into contact with the movable contact portion, the distal end portion of the second spring member being farther from the first spring member than the base end portion of the second spring member in a state where the movable contact portion is spaced apart from the distal end portion of the first spring member and the distal end portion of the second spring member; and a third spring member having one end portion secured to the movable reed piece and another end portion secured to the third fixed terminal piece.
 2. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein upon application of a magnetic field from outside the envelope, the distal end portion of the movable reed piece is configured to come into contact with the one end portion of the first fixed terminal piece, and the movable contact portion is configured to come into contact with the first spring member, and wherein without a magnetic field applied from outside the envelope, the movable contact portion is configured to come into contact with the second spring member.
 3. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the first fixed terminal piece, the second fixed terminal piece, the third fixed terminal piece, and the movable reed piece each comprise a magnetic material, and wherein the first spring member, the second spring member, and the third spring member each comprise a nonmagnetic material.
 4. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the first spring member has a first spring constant, the second spring member has a second spring constant, and the third spring member has a third spring constant, the third spring constant being smaller than the first spring constant, the second spring constant being smaller than the third spring constant.
 5. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the first spring member has a first spring constant, the second spring member has a second spring constant, and the third spring member has a third spring constant, the third spring constant being smaller than the first spring constant, the second spring constant being larger than the first spring constant.
 6. The reed switch according to claim 2, wherein the first fixed terminal piece, the second fixed terminal piece, the third fixed terminal piece, and the movable reed piece each comprise a magnetic material, and wherein the first spring member, the second spring member, and the third spring member each comprise a nonmagnetic material.
 7. The reed switch according to claim 2, wherein the first spring member has a first spring constant, the second spring member has a second spring constant, and the third spring member has a third spring constant, the third spring constant being smaller than the first spring constant, the second spring constant being smaller than the third spring constant.
 8. The reed switch according to claim 2, wherein the first spring member has a first spring constant, the second spring member has a second spring constant, and the third spring member has a third spring constant, the third spring constant being smaller than the first spring constant, the second spring constant being larger than the first spring constant.
 9. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the first fixed terminal piece has a fixed reed piece fixedly attached to the one end portion of the first fixed terminal piece, and wherein the distal end portion of the movable reed piece is configured to come into direct contact with the fixed reed piece.
 10. The reed switch according to claim 9, wherein the first spring member is fixedly attached to the fixed reed piece, and wherein the first spring member is configured to come into direct contact with the movable contact portion of the movable reed piece.
 11. The reed switch according to claim 10, wherein the distal end portion of the movable reed piece is configured to not come into direct contact with the second fixed terminal.
 12. The reed switch according to claim 9, wherein the distal end portion of the movable reed piece is configured to not come into direct contact with the second fixed terminal.
 13. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the movable reed piece is configured to not come into direct contact with the second fixed terminal.
 14. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the distal end portion of the first spring member and the distal end portion of the second spring member is larger than a distance between the base end portion of the first spring member and the base end portion of the second spring member in a state where the movable contact portion is spaced apart from the distal end portion of the first spring member and the distal end portion of the second spring member.
 15. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the one end portion of the first fixed terminal piece is closer to the movable contact portion than the one end portion of the second fixed terminal piece in the longitudinal direction of the reed switch in a state where the distal end portion of the second spring member contacts the movable contact portion.
 16. The reed switch according to claim 1, wherein the second spring member has a bent shape such that the distal end portion of the second spring member is farther from the first spring member than the base end portion of the second spring member in a state where the movable contact portion is spaced apart from the distal end portion of the second spring member. 